Act Now - School Chalo

Latika, 13, had not even dreamt that she would go to school – partly because the nearest government school was very far. She used to earn a living as a rag picker in the City. Today she studies in the Sun City Government Primary School, thanks to the safe transport provided by the Action Centre for Transformation (ACT). “We are a family of seven members – me, my husband and five children. Survival in the City is extremely difficult. Latika has to work to support the family. Being a girl, she is not permitted to travel alone, be it for her education or any other purpose,” says Latika’s mother, a resident of Ghata Village. At school, Latika is beginning to get a sense of direction on her further studies and employment opportunities. Her shining eyes now carry the hope of a better and more secure life.
ACT’s ‘Aao School Chalen’ initiative has helped over 40 children from similar backgrounds to get admission in government schools. The NGO has been helping the urban and rural poor to receive such education and earn a living. “Our City has a huge population of migrants, who come in search of livelihood and a better standard of living. They live in make-shift temporary tents provided by some agent on rent. As both the parents are engaged in work, the children are often left wandering in the streets. Being new to the City, the parents are also scared to send their children to (govt) schools, which are normally not located anywhere near the slums/villages. We realised that the major issue is the lack of safe transport, and so we arranged for it - free,” says Nilanjana, Founder, ACT.
Upset with the disparities that exist between the privileged and under-privileged children in the City, Nilanjana laid the foundation of ACT in 2010. A qualified professional in Rural Management, she visited many villages, had continuous dialogue with the villagers and conducted research on various development issues. She then formed the NGO, to help overcome the challenges faced by poor children – especially through education. Nilanjana believes that concentrating attention on one village or slum for a sufficiently long period is important, rather than moving on to new locations year after year. “We need to help at least two generations, so that the families become self-dependent. We should make them aware of the outer world, so that they can have better earning options. We should train them to become self-sufficient,” she says. ACT identified Ghata Village to begin with and is now running projects in Bandhwadi also.

About Us

ACT PAPER WINGS IS THE FAIR TRADE ORGANIZATION PROMOTING AND MARKETING THE ECO FRIENDLY UPCYCLED HAND MADE PRODUCTS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED FROM THE RURAL ARTISANS, RURAL CRAFTERS AND RURAL WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS ALL OVER INDIA. THIS ORGANIZATION IS A VITAL ARM OF ACTION CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION (ACT) WHICH IS A NONPROFIT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION BASED IN GURGAON DISTRICT OF HARYANA. ACTION CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION AIMS TO EMPOWER THE RURAL WOMEN SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY BY BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITATING A CHANGE THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES IN CREATING AND SUPPORTING TOWARDS A GREEN AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT. ACT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2010 BUT THE JOURNEY OF ACT PAPER WINGS BEGAN IN THE YEAR 2012 AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE RURAL WOMEN LIVELIHOODS THROUGH UPCYCLING WASTE, MAINLY OLD NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PAPERS SINCE THEN.